Directed Energy S&T Challenges Overview L. Bruce Simpson, SES Director Directed Energy Directorate Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Mission AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate Develop, integrate, and transition science and technology for directed energy to include high power microwaves, lasers, adaptive optics, imaging, and effects to assure the preeminence of the United States in air and space. 2 2
What is directed energy? AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate Electromagnetic Spectrum High Power Radio Frequency (RF) High Power Microwaves (HPM) High Energy Lasers (HEL) 3 3
What is directed energy? AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate Precision Engagement Selective targeting measured by the inch Rapid re-targeting in real time Speed-of-Light Delivery Immediate attack with global reach Surprise element for enemy confusion Controlled Effects Minimum collateral damage Graduated effects from deny to destroy Logistical Advantage Seamless awareness of battlefield and space Deep magazine without shelf-life or stockpile issues 4 4
Customers and Products AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate Near Term: Transition to Acquisition Community and Industry Today2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Rapid Prototyping Active Denial Non-Lethal Weapons Aircraft Self-Protection Aircraft Countermeasures 5 Adaptive Optics 5
Customers and Products AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate Mid Term: Existing Customers and Demonstration Partners Advanced (Concept) Technology Demonstration (ACTD and ATD) Near Term: Transition to Acquisition Community and Industry Today2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Laser Imaging Tactical Lasers Counter IED Advanced Beam Control Ballistic Missile Defense 6 6
Customers and Products AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate Long Term: Strategic Planning of cross directorate integrated systems of systems development Mid Term: Existing Customers and Demonstration Partners Advanced (Concept) Technology Demonstrations (ACTD and ATD) Near Term: Transition to Acquisition Community and Industry Today2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Game Changing Technologies Space Control - Counter Electronics Precision Engagement Long Range Strike Force Protection 7 7
Focused Long Term Challenges (FLTCs derived from S&T Vision) ANTICIPATE Space Air ASSESS ENGAGE FIND ASSESS FIND FIX ENGAGE FIND AF 2 T 2 EA 4 FIX TRACK ASSESS TARGET FIX TRACK TARGET ENGAGE TRACK TARGET Cyber ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE 8 8
Focused Long Term Challenges AFRL Investment Strategy Delivering the Air Force S&T Vision through Leadership, Discovery, Innovation, and Integration. 1. Anticipatory Command, Control and Intelligence (C2I) 2. Unprecedented Proactive Surveillance and Reconnaissance (S&R) 3. Dominant Difficult Surface Target Engagement/Defeat 4. Persistent and Responsive Precision Engagement 5. Assured Operations in High Threat Environments 6. Dominant Offensive Cyber Engagement 7. On-demand Theater Force Projection, Anywhere 8. Affordable Mission Generation and Sustainment 9 9
DE Problem Statements AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate FLTC-2 Unprecedented Proactive Surveillance & Reconnaissance Space ANTICIPATE FLTC-3 Dominant Difficult Surface Target Engagement/Defeat FIND Air FIX ASSESS FIND FIND FIX ASSESS FIXENGAGEFIND TRACK ASSESS AF2T2EA4 ASSESS TARGET FIX ENGAGE TRACK TRACK ENGAGE ENGAGE TARGET TARGET TRACK TARGET FLTC-4 Persistent & Responsive Precision Engagement Assure All-Object Space Situational Awareness Deliver On-demand, Lethal Effects to Difficult Targets with Ultra Precision Engage Adversaries with Non-Lethal Force Globally Deliver DE and Non-Lethal Effects Cyber ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE FLTC-5 Assured Operations in High Threat Environments Detect and Defeat Threats Through Active Defenses FLTC-6 Dominant Offensive Cyber Deliver Counter Electronics Effects Engagement Vision Problem Statements Tech Challenges Approaches 10 10
FLTC #2 Unprecedented Proactive Surveillance & Reconnaissance (S&R) Proactively Find, Fix, and Track Anything, Anytime, Anywhere with Agile and Immediate C4ISR Enable High Performance Networks for Assured C2 and Sensing Persistently Deliver Fused Multi-Source S&R for Total Battlespace Awareness Assure Closed-Loop C2ISR Sensing and Processing (anticipatory) Generate Wide-Area, Global Access, Detection and Tracking Deliver High-Volume, Super Resolution Imagery of Anywhere, Anytime Assure All-Object Space Situational Awareness 11 11
FLTC #2 Unprecedented Proactive Surveillance & Reconnaissance (S&R) Assure All-Object Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Objective: Detect/track all space objects at various altitudes SSA Technology Space Surveillance Metrics and Images Optics for Atmospheric Compensation 12 12
FLTC #2 Unprecedented Proactive Surveillance & Reconnaissance (S&R) Assure All-Object Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Adaptive Optics Image Objective: Develop technology in resolvable and non-resolvable characterization Space Shuttle with Post Processing Adaptive Optics and Image Post Processing enables identification of deep space and dim objects 13 13
FLTC #2 Unprecedented Proactive Surveillance & Reconnaissance (S&R) Assure All-Object Space Situational Awareness Objective: Refine large aperture optical beam control technologies to provide improved tracking, imaging and dim object detection Capture real time, exquisite characterizations of satellites Detect micro-satellites within narrow field to include detection and discrimination Extend hours and object list for high bandwidth tracking Improve beam control capabilities for laser propagation applications Develop more efficient signature analysis for satellite identification and states 14 14
FLTC #2 Unprecedented Proactive Surveillance & Reconnaissance (S&R) Assure All-Object Space Situational Awareness Objective: Perform physical and functional analysis of satellites Analyze phenomena effects on the function/operation of subsystems and the entire satellite Perform analysis for potential directed energy (DE) threats Integrate and automate engineering data, analysis process Provide support to military and space communities 15 15
FLTC #3 Dominant Difficult Surface Target Engagement/Defeat Detect, Tag, Track, Identify, Target Adversaries, IEDs, CBRNE in Congested or Concealed Environments and Create Desired Effects Find, ID, Assure-Tracking and Engage Individuals & IEDs Locate, ID, Engage and Neutralize CBRNE F2T2 Difficult Targets Including Complex Urban and Difficult Terrains Rapidly Deliver Scalable Kinetic & Non- Kinetic Effects to Difficult Targets Deliver On-Demand, Lethal Effects to Difficult Targets with Ultra Precision Engage Adversaries with Non-Lethal Force 16 16
FLTC #3 Dominant Difficult Surface Target Engagement/Defeat Deliver On-Demand, Lethal Effects to Difficult Targets with Ultra Precision Objective: Deliver lethal effects to a range of tactical targets in challenging environments and engagement scenarios Expand speed-of-light offensive and defensive capabilities Maintain precise aimpoint Obtain scaleable effects Supply deep magazine Provide minimal collateral damage Representational Timeline 17 17
FLTC #3 Dominant Difficult Surface Target Engagement/Defeat Deliver On-Demand, Lethal Effects to Difficult Targets with Ultra Precision Objective: Provide high energy laser systems to enable ultra-precise lethal attacks on tactical targets Operate in highly dynamic environment Enable precision engagement at long distant ranges Minimize laser power requirements Meet stringent platform constraints Mitigate aero-optics distortion Provide system of systems laser testing Representational Timeline 18 18
FLTC #3 Dominant Difficult Surface Target Engagement/Defeat Engage Adversaries with Non-Lethal Force Objective: Advance millimeter wave source and antenna system technologies to enable robust non-lethal counter personnel options Self-protect platform Clear lines of communication Deny access Provide urban air support Assist in personnel recovery Protect assets (troops, convoys, embassies, airfields, bases, etc) Support special operations efforts 19 19
FLTC #4 Persistent & Responsive Precision Engagement Maneuver Through Anti-Access/Area Denied Environments to Deliver Effects Rapidly and/or Persistently Globally Deliver Directed Energy and Nonkinetic Effects Globally Deliver Full Spectrum of Kinetic Effects Globally Deliver Selected Effects for Time Sensitive Targets Covertly Globally Deliver Autonomous, Unattended Sensor Payloads 20 20
FLTC #4 Persistent & Responsive Precision Engagement Globally Deliver Directed Energy and Non-Kinetic Effects Objective: Provide Speed-of-Light awareness, communications, engagements, and assessments of anything, anywhere, anytime Look over the horizon Deliver scaleable force projection Uplink to a cooperative network Provide geostationary high energy laser in the sky Augment mission of forward fighting troops Increase stand-off range 21 21
FLTC #5 Assured Operations in High Threat Environments Achieve Mission Objectives with Impunity Against Full Spectrum Threats, from Anti-Access IADS to Cyber Anticipate and Avoid Threats Through Stealth and Deception Detect and Defeat Threats Through Active Defenses Survive the Attack Through Passive and Adaptive Protection Recover from Threat Effects 22 22
FLTC #5 Assured Operations in High Threat Environments Detect and Defeat Threats through Active Defenses Objective: Fuse directed energy capabilities to detect, avoid, repel and survive attacks on land, sea, air and space imagine A Directed Energy Shield 23 23
FLTC #5 Assured Operations in High Threat Environments Detect and Defeat Threats through Active Defenses Objective: Fuse directed energy capabilities to detect, avoid, repel and survive attacks on land, sea, air and space 24 24
FLTC #5 Assured Operations in High Threat Environments Detect and Defeat Threats through Active Defenses Objective: Fuse directed energy capabilities to detect, avoid, repel and survive attacks on land, sea, air and space Layer a protection systems (fixed and mobile) Protect perimeters and high value assets Detect enemy activity beyond operational range thresholds Control crowds/separate insurgents Disrupt electronic systems Neutralize IEDs at safe distances Increase survivability of troops Engage escort planes equipped with countermeasure weapons Defeat threats with conventional, HEL and HPM weaponry 25 25
FLTC #6 Dominant Offensive Cyber Engagement Conduct full spectrum offensive cyber/info ops against military, leadership, and infrastructure Access Adversary s Cyber/Info Systems Anywhere, Anytime Operate with Stealth and Persistence in Cyber Generate Robust Cyber Intelligence (CYBINT) Deliver Integrated D5 Information Operations Effects Deliver Counter Electronics Effects 26 26
FLTC #6 Dominant Offensive Cyber Engagement Deliver Counter Electronics Effects Objective: Disrupt adversaries critical military and infrastructure electronic and communication equipment with little to no collateral damage Disrupt communications Tailor for multiple attack paths Deliver to wide-area non-lethal coverage of urban areas with swarming UAVs Attack critical infrastructure, leadership, and CBRNE targets Identify electronic signatures to feed intelligence preparation of the battlespace (IPB) and battle damage assessments (BDA) Deliver low collateral damage through glide bomb fly-bys 27 27
Technology Challenges AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate High Energy Lasers High Power Microwaves Space Situational Awareness Adaptive Optics and Imaging Millimeter Waves Relay Mirrors 28 28
Bridge to the Warfighter AFRL/Directed Energy Directorate National Defense Industry AFRL/DE Laboratory Warfighter 29 29
Directed Energy Provides robust capabilities to the warfighter Offers integrated applications ready to field now Future DE paradigms Deliver global reach on demand Transform the way we engage our adversaries DE has the Power to Change the face of military conflict. 30 30
Dr. Bruce Simpson Director, Directed Energy (505) 846-0860 www.de.afrl.af.mil 31 31